Reduced brain processing of affective pictures in children with cerebral palsy

Emotional State Measurement Trial (EMOPROEXE): A Protocol for Promoting Exercise in Adults and Children with Cerebral Palsy

BACKGROUND

The protocol described in this paper is part of a research project coordinated between three Spanish universities, where a technology aimed at improving the quality of life of people with cerebral palsy will be developed. Part of the proposed technology will consist of an interface and a series of applications to increase motivation for daily physical activity. The basis of these developments is the measurement of the emotional state of the subjects.

METHODS

The experimental protocol is designed with two research objectives, on the one hand to identify the emotional state through physiological signals, and on the other to determine whether music can be a motivating factor to promote physical activity. It is specifically designed for subjects with cerebral palsy, taking into account the special characteristics of this population. These are people with whom it is difficult to use questionnaires to have a basis to contrast with the measured physiological signals, so measurements must be taken in carefully chosen daily-life situations.

DISCUSSION

We hope our findings show which physiological parameters are the most robust to measure the emotional state and how to design rehabilitation and physical activity promotion routines that are motivating, in addition to being able to avoid risk factors during the performance of these routines.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT05621057.

Cognitive Event-Related Potentials in Young Adults With Cerebral Palsy: A Proof-of-Concept Study

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a movement and posture disorder often accompanied by cognitive difficulties which can be assessed using event-related potentials (ERPs), an often-overlooked tool in this population. Here we describe our assessment protocol, examine its feasibility, and validate the use of single-subject ERP analyses in adolescents and young adults with CP, an analysis approach which recognizes the heterogeneity of the clinical population. This study involved a final sample of 9 adolescents/young adults with CP participating in the "MyStory" study (age range 16-29 years, Mage = 25.0 years; 6 female; Gross Motor Function Classification System level I [n = 4], II [n = 2], III [n = 1], IV [n = 1], and V [n = 1]). ERP components were elicited over medial prefrontal and central cortex (error- and correct-related negativities [ERN/CRN], error-positivity [Pe], N100, P200, N200, P300), as well as those generated over occipital cortex (P100, N170). Group and single-subject ERP statistics were computed for ERPs recorded over both areas. Using recently developed data analysis methods (independent components analysis and robust bootstrapped single-subject statistics), we measured the number of participants demonstrating significant condition differences at the timing of each ERP component of interest. We demonstrate good validity for ERPs recorded during 2 of our 3 tasks eliciting frontal activation (eg, 4 of 6 participants with usable data showed a significant single-subject medial frontal negativity condition difference in a context-switching task) and good validity for ERPs derived from a task engaging occipital regions (eg, 8 of 9 participants each showed a significant N170 face-object condition effect).

Factors Affecting the Use of Pain-Coping Strategies in Individuals with Cerebral Palsy and Individuals with Typical Development

Many individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) suffer from pain and must develop pain-coping strategies, although the factors determining them are unknown. This observational study aims at exploring the association between different pain-coping strategies and factors such as age, sex, pain, health status, sleep or motor and cognitive function in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) and typically developing peers (TD). Main caregivers of 94 individuals with CP (age range = 6-69 years, mean age = 17.78 (10.05)) and the closest relative of 145 individuals with TD (age range = 6-51 years, mean age = 19.13 (12.87)) completed questionnaires on the previous topics (Parent Report of the PEDsQL Pediatric Coping Inventory, the Health Utility Index HUI-3, Epworth Sleepiness Score and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index). Pain presence, duration, intensity, location and ratings of current and worst pain in the last week in an 11-point numerical rating scale were assessed in an interview. Global health was the best predictor the of use of any type of pain-coping strategy, including cognitive self-instruction, problem-solving, distraction, seeking social support and catastrophizing, in both individuals with CP and individuals with TD. However, different health attributes predicted their use in each population. Emotional health was the best predictor in individuals with CP, whereas cognition and pain were the best predictors in individuals with TD. Speech ability was a predictor in both groups. In conclusion, the assessment of health attributes such as emotional health and speech may help design specific interventions for enhancing self-efficacy and adaptive pain coping skills.